From vacationing in Sister Lakes her whole life to making the area her permanent home 20 years ago, Eileen Crouse is smitten with Dowagiac.
As membership coordinator for the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, Crouse spearheaded an initiative to bring the city its first official flag in 2022. When that was through, she refocused her passion for the community on creating the area’s first major publication for residents and tourists to learn more about what the area has to offer.
This week, Crouse announced the completion of Destination Dowagiac, a 33-page guide to all things Dowagiac. The guide includes a detailed map with things to do from Cassopolis and Vandalia up to Sister Lakes, a guide to local parks, restaurants, specialty shops, art, upcoming events, tidbits of the area’s rich history and a complete guide to Chamber businesses.
Crouse said she proposed the idea to the Chamber about a year ago, and spent the last six months working on it. It was a lot of work, she said, but it was a labor of love.
“I have a slightly romanticized idea of the area,” she said. “It’s very near and dear to my heart. … it’s just got this old-fashioned, small town feeling that people say we don’t enjoy anymore in this country. But we do, they’re all over and Dowagiac is one of them.”
Crouse envisions the Destination Dowagiac guide as a way to spread the word to both people in Southwest Michigan, as well as across the state and beyond.
“It’s one of those towns where people still know their neighbors,” Crouse said. “I just want to highlight that and spotlight that. I want to point these things out to people who may take them for granted – just how lucky we are and how fortunate we are to live in such a neat community.”
From the nearby Lawless International Dark Sky Park in Vandalia and kayaking in the Dowagiac River to Lutz’s Drive In and the Sister Lakes, Crouse said she wants the entire region to see why she is so enthusiastic about Dowagiac. Once the guide is printed later this month, Crouse said it will be distributed at Pure Michigan rest stops along the highway, in Chicago, in South Bend and all over the region.
“This area in general is going in the right direction,” Crouse said. “It’s a great vibe. I’m really excited and happy to see Niles’ downtown looking so good, Cassopolis’ downtown looking so good and of course Sister Lakes always just being a really fun and special place.”
The Chamber plans to release a new publication every year with new features and up-to-date events. To see the full 2023 guide before it gets printed, click here.
